Automobile signal



C. H. NOBLE.

AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 9. 1921.

Patented'Aug. L 1922.

aumomonim SIGNAL.

Specfication of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 1,

Application filed flovember 9, 1921. Serial No. 514,030.,

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Be it known that I, CHARLES H. NOBLE, a citizen of the United States, residing atBad Axe, in the county of Huron and State 'of Michigan. have invented certain new and useful Improvemerts in Automobile Signzfls, of Which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

It is the Purpose of the present invention to provide a signalfor'use on automobiles, especially adapted for attachment on the top of the cover tbereof, fox signalling to the chauffeursof automobiles in the rear, as to whether or not the chauffeur of the automobile in front intends to turn to the right or the left or stop.

However, the present signal is designed namely for indicating danger, by disclosing the red signal, conveying the fact to the chauffeur of the automobile in the rear that the chauffeur 01 the automobile in front in the design of the present invention t0 operate the c anger signal by hand.

lVhile the design and construction at present illustrated and set forth are deemed proferable, it is obvious that as a result of a reduction of the invention to a more practical for1n for commercial purposes, the invention may be susceptible oi changes, and the right to these changes is claimd, provided theyare comprehended within the scope of what is claimed.

The invention comprises fu1ther features and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed,

In the drawingsz Figure 1 is a view showing the signal as applied to the top of the cover of an auto mobile, showing the signal pr0per as encased in t l 1e tabulanhousing or csing;

l! 1gure 2 1s a view showing the signal exposed;

F 1guie 3 is an enlarged detail setional view of the signal on line 33 of F igre 2 shovnng the signal propet ex1oosed. and showmg the actuating cord as conneoted thereto;

Figure et is a. longitudinal sectional view through the springtensioned roller or drum;

F 1.gure 5 1s a seCtional view through the top o f the rear of the c"over of an autoiiuobfle shoxv1ng the hosing in section illustrating a direction signal Square in cross section mounted therein, and 'adapted to have a blank face as neutral, and right' and left turn and stop on the other tliree faces;

Figure 6 isa longitudinal sectional view through the signal shown in Figure 5, show- 1n,q right turn;

F igure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 showving left turn;

Figure 8 is a view similar to F iguies ,6 and 7 showing stop; r j

Figure 9 is a view siniilar to Figures-6, 7 and 8 showmg a blank face acting as neu tral; and

Figure 10 is a view sbowing the casing of F ures 7 to 9 inclusive efi1ninated..

eferring to the drawings, 1 designates a bracket which is provided with amas 2 en tending upwardly andrearwardly. 'Atubulai casing for the signal in Figures 1 to3 inclusive is provided. This tubular casing {3 consists of a oirfzular sheet metalwall with its adjacent edge portions spaced andfter m1nating in downwardly extending flariges 4, Which act to protect the danger signal from the weather. The endS of the casing 3 have diametrically opposite cars 5. 'to which are fastened ears 6 of the circularnd pieces 7, Which act to closethe ends of the casing. The end pieshave extensions 8 conf0rming to the disposition of the finges l, and are secured to the ndsof said fianges in any suitable 1nanner (mot shown) HOW- ever the end pieces 7 are securd by srews 9 on circular extremities 10 Of the armsr2., thereby mountingthe Csing in position.

Mounted in the caSing 3 is a r0ller 11, about Which a danger signal 12, pxeferably colored red is Wound, oneen d of thissignal is connected to the roller. Th e danger signal may be madeOf any suitable pliable materittl, stich as fabric, pferably silk, though it is obvious that cotton, linen, oil

cl0th or the like may be u'sed. One end of the pliable danger signal hasa stripl3,- which is riveted to the pliable signal as at end .of the shaft has a coller 17 engaged b"the roller, there being a Washer 18 0n the Other end of theshaft and held in place by a cotterpin 19, so that therroller nljV designedto indicate danger.

rvolve between the collar 17 and the washer. A coil spring 20 surrounds the shaftland has one end attached to the s haft as at 21, and its other end attachedto the tubular roller as at 22. The shaft 16 has a'redued.cylindrical pintle 23 engaging a bearing of one ofthe end pieces 7', while the ;other end of.the shaft has a rectangulan pintle 24 engaging the other endpiece 7 of'the housihg. The rectangular pintle 24 prevents the shaftfr0m turning.- A suitable cord 25 attachd at 26to thestrip13, and passes 0Ver seVeral rollers 27, and terminates in a handle 28, by which the danger signaler flag may be unreeled-fromthe rolle r. This fiag or curtain danger signal is not"'only colord riad,but alsohas the word .red thereon, and when exposed is The nord 13assesthroughthe upper rear portion of the top of the cover, and the rollers 27 dver which the cord ptsses are suspendedfroni the under surfceof the coVer ofthe auto mobile. 'The har1dle 28 of the cord le disposed on the iriteridr ofthe automobile,

in close position to the oprator or chauffer,s that by pulling uponthe'cord the -dangenor red signal or flag inay be eXposed. 'Upon such action of theharidle, the spring roller Will rewindtb cui tain or' fiag or danger signal and the strip 13 Wlll lit be tWeen the flanges 4 and limit the 'curtain or fiag danger signal in its rereeling n1oVement. InFigres 5 to 10 inclusive there is illustiated a direction signal, 'operatted in a manner similar to thedanger signal. However in this f0rin of signal a tube 29 square in cross section is mounted in the housing 3 andfurtliermore this housing is disPosed so 'that its opei1ing faces rearwardly, to -expose any one of the faces of the tube. In

'fa'ct it might, be said that the tube is an equiValent ofgthe roller 11, with tbeexceptien that it is square in cross Section, and is provided with a grooved pulley 30 on Jonc end. The tube 29 hais ashaft 32'extending longitudinally therethrough, with its pintles 33 and 34 engaged by the end pi ec es 7 of the housing 3 The pintle 3 1 is rectangular, to hold the shaft stationary, and

inounteid in thetbe29 is a coil spring which surrounds the shaft, withone end attached thereto, and its other end attached to the tube asat 35. One face of the tube 29 is blank and is colored black, or the same colOr of the top of the cover of the automobile, while two ofthe Other faces have arrov vs indicating right and leftturn, whereas the pullingthe cord 36 sufliciently the face containing the direction right turnmay be exposed, and When pulling the cdrd- 36 fuither the face containing left turn may ce exposed. Upo nan additional pull on the cord the face containing the word stop may be exposedi Tlie nord 36 passes over aserres cf S1m1lar' pulleys or rollers 27 suspended from the under face of the top of the cover of the automobile, and is connected to the slide 38,Which is mounted in guides Of a plate 39, Which may be secured in'close position 430 the operatr or chauffeur ,The plate has neutral, right turn, left turn, and stop printed on one side,, as a gauge for the inovement of the slide. 'The slide is provided with a dog 40 t0 engage teeth4l of the plate, so as to hold the slide opposite any one of the directions on the plate, in orderto hold the tube with the desired face thereof exposed.

The invention having beenset forth, what is claimed is:

1. In a signal as set forth, the combinat1on w1th a tubular h0us1hgprovided with elongated opening, of a support therefor, a tens1oned roller mounted in bearings of the housing, a pliable signal Wound about the roller and having one end attached thereto, and ineans at the other end of the signal adapted to contact with the;wall of thel10using when the signal is automacically rewound, ther by limiting the signal in its rewinding mcvenient and closing said open ing, thereby precluding foreign matter.

2. In a signal as set forth, the combina tion with a tubular h0using p'rovided with an elongated opening, of a support therefor, a -tensioned roller mounted in -bearings of the lioiising, a pliable signal w0und about the roller and having one end attached thre-,

to, and means at the other endbf the signal adapted to contact; with the Wall ofthe housing When the Signal is automatically rewound, thereby limiting the signal in its ing, thereby precluding foreign matter, and

means attached to said limiting means of the signal, for actuating the signal to its exposed position.

3. In a signal, the combination with a tubular housing having an elongated opening in its small portion with opposed fianges on opposite sides of said opening, of supports for the ends of the housing, end places seeured to the supports, means for oonnect ing the end pieces to the ends of the hous-- ing, a tensioned roller mounted in bearings of said end pieces and containing a traffic warning or signal, and means for aotuating said roller.

4:. In a signal, the combination with a tubnlar housing having an elongated opening in its small portion with opposed flanges on opposite sides of said opening, 01" a support for the housing end pieces ,seoured to the arms of said support, a tensioned roller having pintles journalod in bearings of said and pieces, a pliable signal wound about the roller., means attached to one and of the sig nal and adapted to operatively engage with said -opposed fianges t0 limit the roller in its rereeling movoment, means operatively connected to said limiting means for unreeling said signal. 1

5. In combination, a honsing, a support therefor, said housinghavmg an elongated' opening in its wall adapted to face rearwardly, the ripper and lower margins of said opening having long and short flanges, the former overlying and protrndingbeyond the latter a tensioned roller jonrnaled in bearings of said honsihg, and being square in cross-section, and having onelongitndinal face blank aoting as neutral, and provided with right and left turn and stop on the other three faces, a pulley formed on one and of the roller, and an actuating cord connected to said roller and wound thereabout -for revolving the relier,

In testimony whereol I herennto affix my signature.

CHARLES H. NOBLE. 

